Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “telegramese” come from?

telegramese (English) comes from English telegram, from English -gram, from Ancient Greek γράμμα, from Ancient Greek γράφω, from Proto-Hellenic grəpʰō, from Proto-Indo-European gerbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European ger- — to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...

telegramese (English): The terse, abbreviated writing style used in...

Definitions

  1. The terse, abbreviated writing style used in...

Ancestry of “telegramese”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtelegramA message transmitted by telegraph; To send a...
2English-gramSomething written, drawn or otherwise recorded
3Ancient Greekγράμμαthat which is written, that which is drawn,...
4Ancient Greekγράφωto scratch, cut into; to draw, sketch, paint; to...
5Proto-Hellenicgrəpʰōto scratch, cut or carve into; to draw ,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeangerbʰ-to carve
7Proto-Indo-Europeanger-to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...
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